Embossing-press.



C. BEHBEIN.

EMBOSSING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. e. 1914.

l ,267,591 Patented May 28, 1918.

A TTORNEY vent this wrinkling,

bossed by th UNITED sTATEs vInaTENT, ormoni.

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 HAYES MANUFACTULRING COMPANY, or nETnom MICHIGAN, a ConPoRATIoN oF MICHIGAN.

' EmossnvG-Pnnss.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I CONRAD'REHBEIN, a citizen of the United States, of Detroit, in thecounty of vWayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Embossing-Press, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to presses for forming and embossing sheet metal members, particularly members such as mud-guards for motor vehicles, having portions curved in longitudinal cross-section and also having laterally extending flanges. In the presses ordinarily used, there is great tendency for the anges to become wrinkled as the metal is stretched to produce the necessary longitudinal curve, which results in many defective or worthless shapes. Itis the object of the present invention to preand at the same time improve the nish of the article generally.

rlhis invention consistsin a female die having an opening therein conforming to the surface which is to be embossed on a piece of metal stock, a male die adapted to coperate with the female die, a sheet of resilient material between the dies, and means for preventing longitudinal movenient of the flanges of the metal stock as -the (lies approach each other.

This invention further consists in the `novel details of construction shown, de-

scribed and particularly pointed out in the claims. v n

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse section' of the press, showing the dies separated a short distance and a sheet of metal stock in position to be embossed. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the dies in engagement. Fig.-

3 1s a fragmentary longitudinal section of a press for forming mud-guards for motor vehicles in which my invention is embodied. Fig. et is a side view of a mud-guard eme press. A

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment shown, surface of the upper or female die 1 is curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the proposed mudguard indicated in Fig. 4. surface, throughout the greater part of its length, vcomprises a central portion 2, curved ltransversely to form a shallow groove in the Speoioation of- Letters Patent.

and a resident v the working This working 'Patented May 28,1918.

lanimation mea api-11 e, 1914. serial No. 329,747.

manner of the embossing on the proposed l mud-guard; and at each side of the central portion is a portion 3' of a width and shape corresponding to that of the respective flange to be formed thereon. In order to allow the escape of air from above the pad as the dies come into engagement with each other,l I prefer to provide the female die with the small vent passages 4.

The lower or male die 6 (in this case the fixed die) is provided with a working surl face 7 curved longitudinally to correspond to the curvature of the portions 3 of the female die. As shown,.transverse elements of this surface are straight lines, each of a` length substantially equal to the distance between the outer edges ofthe portions 3, that is, equal to the width of the female die. On each side of the .surface 7, the lower die is provided with the 11p-standing ribs 8 that are adapted to embrace the sides of the female die when the dies are brought into engagement with each other.

Supported upon the working surface 7 is a thick rubber pad 9 of a width substantially equal to the distance between the ribs 8, and resting upon each longitudinal edge of the pad is a leather strip 10 upon which the sheet of metal 1l, that is to be embossed,

is laid.

The relation ofthe parts as the movable die approaches the fixed die is shown in Figs. land 3; and when the dies are fully engaged with each other the parts assume the positions indicated in Fig. 2, the rubber being compressed and forced inwardly from its edges, whereby the sheet. metal is dis4 tended to correspond to the working surface of the female member. the tough, flexible leather strips 10 prevent any local longitudinal movements of the edges of the sheet metal, thereby avoiding the formations ofthe wrinkles along the longitudinal edges of the shape that are incident to the use of presses of ordinary construction, and producing a smooth finished article having an embossed central portion 14 and the longitudinal anges 15 on each side thereof. Local longitudinal movement of the sheet metal relative to the female die and the distortable element is prevented by reason of the fact that these strips laid along the top at the sides of the pad cause the gripping of the edges of the sheet metal befor@ the rubber .t0 .119W ,toward the At the same time,

'center and raise the sheet metal into the groove of the female die. rlhe use `of strips laid upon the pad to cause the gripping of the metal before the sheet is distorted by the bulging of the pad at the center is not the only means by whieh-this can be accomplished. rlhe essential feature of securing this early ipping action and avoiding the local wrinkling is the use of a chamber between the upper level of the distortable means and the face of themale dieY `upon which the distortable means rests.

This allows the rubber to flow some before the sheet metal begins to raise and hence allows the female die tcget a firm grip upon the metal in connection with the distortable means before the drawing starts. i

While' l prefer to useleather strips as a facing for the rubber pad, strips of other lmaterial may be employed in oertain'cases.

And, while l have shown my invention as applied to a press for'forming mud-guards for motor vehicles, it is obviously of application generally to the formation of sheet metal members curved both longitudinally and transversely.

l do not, therefore, desire to be limited otherwise than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

l claim l. A press comprising a female die having l an opening therein, portions of which are curved 1n longitudinal cross-section and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely to correspond to the shape of a surface that it -is desired to impart to a sheet-metal member, a male die having a working surface in alinement with 'the opening in the female die and curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature ofthe said opening, one

of the dies being movable in respect to the other, a resilient pad between the dies, and tough flexible longitudinal strips carried by the edges of the pad, whereby an intermediate portion of a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of its Vlongitudinal edges may be avoided.

2. A press comprising a female die having a working surface, portions" of which whereby a sheet ofl metal may be embossed and Wrinlrling of its longitudinal edges may be avoided.

Leanser a surface to be imparted to a sheet-metalv member, a male die having an upper working surface curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of theV working surface of the female die, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other,

' a rubber pad resting on the working-,surface Vof the male die, and leather strips resting Von the edges of the pad, lwhereby a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of its longitudinal edges may be avoided.

4. A press comprising a female die having a working surface, portions of which are curved longitudinally and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely to correspond to the shape of an embossed surface which is to be formed on a sheet-metal member, other portions of the surface being curved longitudinally to correspond to the shape of flanges that are to be formed on the sheet-metal member, a maladie, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other, said'male die having a working surface, portions of which are curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the flange-forming surfaces on the female die,

a resilientpad carried by the male die andV covering the working surface thereon, and

strips of tough flexible material carried by the edgesof the resilient pad, whereby a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinlrling of its longitudinal edges may be avoided.

5. A press comprising a female die having a working surface, portions of which are curved longitudinally and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely to correspond to the shape of an embossed surface which is to be formed on a sheet metal member, other portions of the surface being curved longitudinally to correspond to the shape of flanges that are te be formed on the sheet metal member, a male die having a working surface curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the working surface of the felos;

llii

male die, longitudinal ribs on one of the dies adapted to -embrace the sides of the other die, one of the dies being movable toward and from the other, a resilient pad carried by the male die and'covering the working surface thereon, and strips of tough flexible material carried by the edges of the resilient pad, whereby a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of its longitudinal edges may be avoided. said longitudinal ribs serving to prevent the material of the pad from being forced out laterally by the pressure between the dies.

l flexible material carried are to be formed `respectto the other, said male tudinal ribs on one 6r A ress com ris' a female die ha a lowerpworkinglsurfcge, portions of whlild are curved longitudinally and parts of the longitudinally curved portions bein curved transverselyto correspond to the s ape of an embossed surface which is to be formed on a sheet metal member, other portions of the surface bein curved longitudinally to correspond to t on the sheet metal member, a male die, one of the dies beindg movable in e havin an upper working surface, portions of w 'ch are curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the flangeforming\ surfaces on the female die, longiof the. dies adapted to embrace portions of the other die as the movable die approaches the fixed die, a rubber 4pad carried by the male die and covering the working surface thereon, and strips of tough by the edges of the rubber pad, whereby a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrmkling of its longitudinal edges may be avoided, the longitudinal ribs serving to prevent the material of the pad from being forced out laterally by the .pressure between the dies.

7. A press comprising a female die having an opening therein, portions of which are curved in longitudinal cross-section and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely t0 correspond to the shape of a surface that it is desired to impart to a sheet-metal member, a male die having a working surface in alinement with the opening in the female die and curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the said opening, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other, a resilient pad between the dies, and a tough iieXible str'p carried by one portion of the pad, the whole arrangement being such that one portion of a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of another portion may be avoided. Y

8. A press comprising a female die having an opening therein, a male die having a working surface in alinement with the opening in the female die, one of the dies being movable in respect t0 the other, a resilient pad carried by the male die and adapted to enter the opening of the female die, and a strip of tough flexible material carried by the edge of the resilient pad, whereby an intermediate portion of a sheet ofmetal may be embossed and wrinkling of one of its edges may be avoided.

9. A press comprising a female die having an opening therein, portions 'of which are curved in longitudinal cross-secti0n and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely to correspond tov the shape of a surface that it is desired to impart to a sheet-metal member, a male die e shape of flanges that pad carried by having a working surface in alinement with the ope in the female die and curved longitudina y to correspond to the longitudlnal curvature of the said opening, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other, a res' ent pad between the dies, and a tough fiexible` strip carried b one portion of the pad, means for venting tile female die, the whole arrangement being such that one portion of a sheetA of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of another portion may be avoided.

10. A press comprising a female die having an opening therein, a male die having a working surface in alinement with the opening in the female die, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other, a resilient pad carried by the male die and adapted to enter the opening in the female die, means for venting the opening in the female die, and a strip of tough flexible material carried by the edge of the resilient pad, whereby anlntermediate portion of a sheet of metal may edges may be avoided.

ing an opening therein, a male die having a press comprising a female die havworlnng surface in alinement with the opening in the female die, one of the dies being movable in respect to the other, a resilient the male die and adapted to enter the opening in the female die, and a strip of tough flexible material in position to engage with one portion of the resilient pad, the whole arrangement being such that one portion of a sheet of metal may be embossed and wrinkling of another portion may be avoided.

12. A press comprising a female die having an opening therein, portions of which are curved in longitudinal cross-section and parts of the longitudinally curved portions being curved transversely to correspond to the shape of a Surface that it is'desired to impart to a sheet-metal member, a male die having a working surface in alinement with the opening in the female die and curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the said opening, one

of the dies being movable in respect to the metal, the combination of a pair of dies whose adjacent operative surfaces are adapted to ft each other, one of the dies having an extended shallow groove in its operative surface, a sheet, of rubber mounted on the operative surface of the other die and adapted to be premed into said groove, and a strip 

